A beehive is an enclosed structure in which honey bees raise their young and produce honey as part of their seasonal cycle. Although the word beehive is used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature distinguishes nest from hive. Nest is used to discuss colonies that house themselves in natural or artificial cavities or in structures that are hanging and exposed. The term hive is used to describe a man made structure created to house a honey bee colony. While species of Apis live in colonies, the western and eastern honey bees are the main species kept in artificial beehives.